Car coupler



, Jan. 27, 1959 w. J. METZGER 2,870,919

CAR COUPLER 7 Filed Aug. 16, 1955 ,2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .36 INVENTOR.

' WILL/AM JIMETZGER ATTORNEY Jan. 27, 1959 Filed Aug. 16,

w. J. METZGER 2,870,919

CAR COUPLER V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOR NE Y CAR CUUPLER William J. Metzger, East Cleveland, @hio, assignor to National Malleahle and Steel Castings (Company, @lcveland, Ohio, a corporation of Uhio Application August 16, 1955, Serial No. 528,634

11 Claims. (Cl. 213-100) in the art as lock-setmechanism to enable a trainman showing the lock and the lock operating lever in locking position and the lock neutralizing link in reposed position on the coupler head.

Fig. 5 is a side elcvational view partly in section, similar to Fig. 4 but showing the direction of rotation of the uncoupling rod to effect engagement of the neutralizing link on the upper end of the uncoupling chain with abutment means extending laterally from the side of the coupler head in order to deactivate the lock of the coupler in unlocking position. In dot-dash there is shown the direction of rotation of the uncoupling rod to effect disengagement of the neutralizing link from the abutment means to thus reactivate the coupler lock.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a rigidjawed coupler of a well-known type, having a head 10 comprising a pulling jaw 12 and a buffing jaw 14. Conto place the lock of the coupler in lock-set or unlockthe lock of each coupler normally moves automatically from its lock-set position to a position in which the coupler is again in proper condition for further coupling.

Sometimes, however, it is desirable, during operations involving shunting of cars, that the coupler lock be held in unlocking or neutralized position so that coupling will not occur. The present invention provides a simple yet effective arrangement for accomplishingsuch a result.

Accordingly, the primary object of the invention is to provide novel mechanism for a rigid-jawed type coupler which will effectively hold the lock of the coupler in unlocking or neutralized position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rigidjawed type coupler having a lock neutralizing or lock holding feature associated therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rigid-jawed coupler having a lock neutralizing feature which will couple with present rigid-jawed type couplers not having such a feature.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lock neutralizing device which may be easily embodied in a present rigid-jawed type coupler and which Will not interfere with the existing operating mechanism of the coupler.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a rigid-jawed type coupler which embodies a lock neutralizing link on the upper end of an uncoupling chain, the link being movably attached to a lock operating lever on the coupler and being adapted, through engagement with abutment means on the coupler head, to positively maintain the coupler lock and lock operating lever in unlocking position.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan View of a coupler embodying the invention, the lock and associated lock operatinglever of the coupler being in locking position. i

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the couplershown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view partly in section,

.arm of the operating lever.

necting the bufling and pulling jaws and arranged at an angle to the longitudinal center line of the coupler is a butfing wall 16.

The pulling jaw 12 of the coupler has a recess 18 adapted for receiving the complementary bufling jaw of an opposing coupler. Forming one side of recess 18 on the pulling jaw is pulling face 20 adapted for engagement with complementary face 22 on the bufling jaw of an opposing coupler head when coupled couplers are subjected to pulling forces.

Projecting forwardly of the buffing wall 16 of the coupler is a gravity actuated lock 24. Lock 24 is of the usual construction and operates in a cavity 25 which extends upwardly and rearwardly from the wall 16 into the coupler head (Fig. 4). The lock is retracted out of locking position by lock operating lever 26 which cooperates with the lock in the conventional manner. Lever 26 is pivotally mounted on the coupler head by means of transverse pin 28 and comprises the usual arm 30 having an opening 32 therein (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) adjacent its outer end for attaching an uncoupling chain 34thereto.

In accordance with the invention, the link 36 on the top end of the uncoupling chain (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) comprises an oval shaped body portion 36a and a shank portion 36b extending forwardly from the body portion.

Body portion 36a comprises transversely spaced stem sections 37 and 38 (Fig. 3) and curved end sections 39 integrally formed with the stem sections to define the elongated opening 40 in the body portion of the link. Shank portion 36b forms a continuation of stem section 37 and extends forwardly and upwardly when the link is in reposed position (Figs. 3 and 4). At its forward end, shank portion 36b is bent laterally, substantially at right angles to the remainder of the shank, to form abutment portion 36c. The front end section 39 of thebody portion of link 36 extends through the aforementioned opening 32 in arm 30 of the operating lever 26 and joins the uncoupling chain .34 to the lever. Hence, link36 is mounted for pivotal movement in a longitudinally disposed plane about opening 32 in the At its lower end, the uncoupling chain 34 is connected to the usual uncoupling rod 42 (Fig. 5). i

Formed rearwardly of the bufling jaw 14 on the coupler head is a guiding wing 44 comprising a laterally extending wall 46 reinforced by upper and lower transverse webs 48 (Figs. 2 and 4). Wing 44 is adapted to align opposing couplers for coupling from various horizontally angled positions.

The abutment means of this invention is in the form of a ledge Sit (Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5) which extends laterally from the side of the coupler head, rearwardly of wing 44. In the embodiment shown, ledge .50 commences substantiallyadiacent the rearward extremity of upper reinforcing web 48 on the aligning wing and slopes down- Patented Jan. 27, 1959 wardly and rearwardly therefrom to form a generally diagonal abutment portion 50a. At its lower extremity, portion 50a curves substantially directly rearwardly to form a generally horizontal seat portion 50b. Ledge 50 then curves downwardly from the rearward extremity of seat portion Stlb to form a substantially vertically disposed stop portion Stlc. While ledge 50 is shown as being integrally formed with the aligning wing and the coupler head, it will be understood that it may be formed separately and attached to the head by welding or any other suitable means.

When the lock neutralizing link 36 and associated uncoupling chain are in reposed position on the coupler head (Figs. 2, 3 and 4), the shank portion 36b of link 36 extends into opening 54 provided in the front abutment wall 46 of the aligning wing adjacent side wall 55 of the head. Opening 54 is of such dimensions as to ensure that nointerference will occur between the link 36 and the wall 46 when the lock operating lever and associated lock are in locking position.

A feature of the invention is wall 53 which extends rearwardly from the front abutment wall 46 of the aligning wing. Wall 53 is spaced from but disposed generally parallel to side wall 55 of the coupler head (Figs. 2 and 3) and in combination with the aligning wing defines a pocket for guiding the pivotal movement of the lock operating lever on the head. As shown in Fig. 2, Wall 53 does not extend the full height of the aligning wing but is positioned on the lower portion thereof. In addition to its guiding function, wall 53 aids in preventing the operating lever 26 from inadvertently working its way laterally outwardly from its correct operating position.

The operation of the lock neutralizing mechanism is as follows: Dot-dash position A in Fig. 5 illustrates the neutral or reposed position of the uncoupling rod 42 on the car. When it is desired to place the lock of the coupler in unlocking position and to deactivate it in that position, the uncoupling rod 42 is actuated in a clockwise direction from position A to position B. This causes the lock operating lever 26 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction from its Fig. 4 position to thus move lock 24 rearwardly out of locking position into cavity 25 in the coupler head. As lever 26 pivots in a counterclockwise direction about pin 28, the shank portion 36b of the neutralizing link 36 is moved into engagement with the rearwardly sloping portion 50a of ledge 50. Thereafter, upon further counterclockwise pivoting of lever 26, the upper end of shank portion 36b of the link reaches the bottom extremity of surface 60 on the ledge. Thereupon the substantially vertical downward force be ing exerted on the link 30 by the uncoupling chain 34 causes shank portion 36b to be snapped beneath the abutment seat portion 50b of the ledge (Fig. 5). The uncoupling rod may then be released and gravity will cause it to return to position A on the car, but the abutting engagement between link 36 and ledge 50 will continue to maintain the lock in neutralized or unlocking position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. It will be seen that the diagonal direction in which shank portion 36]) extends with respect to the body portion 36a of the link not only aids in causing engagement between seat portion 50b of the ledge and the link, but also helps to ensure that the latter will not inadvertently slip out of such holding position. The force exerted by the gravity actuated lock 24 of the coupler against the lock actuating lever tends to move the lock and lever back to locking position and thus serves to maintain the link 36 in abutting engagement with seat portion 50b of the shelf irrespective of the impacts to which the coupler is subjected. Downwardly extending stop portion Stlc of the ledge ensures that link 36 will not inadvertently become jammed behind the ledge and prevent operation of the mechanism. It will be noted that laterally extending portion 360 on the top of shank 36b of the link provides a substantial bearing surface for engagement with the seat portion 56b of the ledge to alleviate any tendency of the link to tip sideways While it holds the lock in neutralized position. It will also be noted that the front face of portion 360 is beveled as at 62 to form a flat face for ensuring full surface contact between seat portion 5M7 of the ledge and the link when the latter are in abutting engagement.

The lock of the coupler can thus be placed in unlocking or retracted position and maintained in such position irrespective of the separation of mated couplers without the need of manually holding the uncoupling rod in uncoupling position. Thus a convenient and safe method is provided for deactivating the lock of the. coupler and couplers on opposing vehicles can engage each 1E1 without becoming coupled.

When it is desired to reactivate the lock, the uncoupling rod is actuated in a counterclockwise direction from the neutral position A to the dot-dash position C (shown in Fig. 5 This causes the uncoupling chain to exert a diagonally downward force on link 36 which causes the latter to be pivoted slightly in a clockwise direction about opening 32 in the lever arm and thus snaps the shank portion 36b of the link out from under the seat portion 56b of the ledge, as shown in dot-dash in Fig. 5. Upon release of the uncoupling rod, the gravity actuated lock will automatically move back to locking position, thereby moving the lock operating lever back to the position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. It will be seen that the aforementioned opening 54 in the front wall 46 of the aligning Wing ensures that no interference will occur between the link and Wall 46 as the lock and lock operating lever move to locking position.

It will be readily understood that in order to move the lock of the coupler from locking to unlocking position Without neutralizing or deactivating the lock, the uncoupling rod is rotated from its neutral position A in a counterclockwise direction, which is the same direction as that used to reactivate the lock from neutralized position. A coupler embodying the invention will readily couple with other similar types of couplers not embody ing the invention and the novel lock neutralizing mechanism will not interfere in any manner with the operation of the coupler.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings it will be readily understood that the invention provides novel lock neutralizing mechanism for a rigidjawed type coupler comprising a link on the upper end of the uncoupling chain having a shank portion adapted for abutting engagement with a ledge on the coupler head upon actuation of the uncoupling rod in a given direction to hold or deactivate the lock operating lever and lock of the coupler in unlocking position. It will also be understood that in order to reactivate the lock of the coupler from its neutralized position, it is necessary merely to actuate the uncoupling rod in the opposite direction to that required to neutralize the lock, and the lock and lock lever will automatically move back to proper position for coupling.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation and there is no intention of excluding equivalents of the invention described or of the portions thereof as fall within the purview of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a car coupler of the rigid-jawed type having a head, a lock for maintaining said coupler in coupled position with an opposing coupler, said lock automatically assuming a forwardly projecting locking position and being movable rearwardly to unlocking position, a lock operating lever for moving said lock to unlocking position, abutment means secured to and extending laterally from said head in spaced relationship to said lock, and lock neutralizing means attached to said lever and pivotal relative thereto, said last-mentioned means being engageable in holding relationship with said abutment means for maintaining said lock in said last-mentioned position.

2. Lock neutralizing means for a car coupler of the rigid-jawed type having a movable lock which automatically assumes a forwardly projecting locking position and which is movable rearwardly to unlocking position and a lock operating lever for moving said lock to unlocking position, said means comprising a ledge on the coupler spaced from said lock and link means connected to the lever pivotally movable into holding engagement with the ledge to maintain the lock of the coupler in unlocking position.

3. In a car coupler of the rigid-jawed type comprising a head, a lock which automatically assumes a forwardly projecting locking position and which is movable rearwardly out of locking position, a lock operating lever for moving said lock out of locking position, an uncoupling rod, an uncoupling chain connected at one end to said rod and at the other end to said lever, said chain having at said last-mentioned end a lock neutralizing link and an abutment on said head engageable in holding relationship with said link upon actuation of said rod in one direction for maintaining said lock out of locking position.

4. In a car coupler of the rigid-jawed type comprising a head, a lock for maintaining said coupler in coupled position with an opposing coupler, a lock operating lever for moving said lock out of locking position, an uncoupling rod rotatively mounted with respect to said head, an uncoupling chain joining said rod and lever, and lock neutralizing means, said means comprising a link connecting said chain with said lever, said link being adapted for holding engagement with an abutment on the coupler head upon rotation of said rod in a direction to move the lock out of locking position, said link and abutment being disengageable upon rotation of said rod in the opposite direction.

5. In a car coupler of the rigid-jawed type having a head, an aligning wing extending laterally from a side of said head, said wing comprising a forward wall and a reinforcing web extending transversely of said wall, and an abutment ledge disposed rearwardly of said web, said ledge comprising an upper portion sloping downwardly and rearwardly from said web and a horizontal portion extending rearwardly from the lower extremity of said upper portion, said horizontal portion being engageable in holding relationship with a lock neutralizing link attached to the lock operating lever of the coupler for maintaining the lock of the coupler in unlocking position.

6. In a car coupler in accordance with claim 5 wherein said aligning wing comprises a guide Wall spaced from said side of said coupler head and extending rearwardly from said forward wall, said guide wall being engageable with the lock operating lever for limiting displacement of the lever outwardly with respect to said head.

7. A link for a car coupler uncoupling chain, said link comprising an oval shaped body portion and a shank portion extending from said body portion, said shank portion being angularly disposed relative to said body portion, the outer end of said shank portion comprising a generally flat outer abutment surface, said surface when said link is in operative position being engageable with an abutment on an associated car coupler for maintaining the lock of the coupler in unlocking position, said surface facing generally upwardly when said link is in said last mentioned position.

8. A head for a car coupler of the rigid-jawed type, said head comprising a pulling jaw and a buffing jaw disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the coupler, a side wall, and an abutment ledge connected to and extending laterally from the outer side of said wall and disposed rearwardly of one of said jaws, said ledge being engageable in holding relationship with a lock neutralizing link connected to the associated lock operating lever for maintaining the lock of the coupler in deactivated position.

9. In a car coupler of the rigid-jawed type comprising a head, a lock, a lock operating lever pivotally mounted on said head for moving said lock rearwardly to unlocking position, an uncoupling rod mounted for rotational movement, an uncoupling chain connected at one end to said rod and at the other end to said lever, said chain comprising a lock neutralizing link on said lastmentioned end pivotally connected to said lever, and an abutment ledge extending laterally from said head, said chain upon actuation of said rod in one direction exerting a substantially vertically downward force on said lever to move said lock out of locking position and to move said link into abutting engagement with the underside of said ledge, said chain upon actuation of said rod in the opposite direction exerting a rearwardly and downwardly directed force on said lever to pivot said link out from engagement with said ledge to permit said lock to return to locking position.

10. In a car coupler of the rigid-jawed type having a head, a movable lock, said lock automatically assuming a forwardly projecting locking position and being movable rearwardly to unlocking position, a rotatable lock operating lever for moving said lock to unlocking position, said lever having an opening therein, a lock neutralizing link loosely received in said opening in pivotal relationship with said lever, abutment means on said link and on said head, said means on said link being moved into holding relationship with said means on said head upon predetermined rotation of said lever to retain said lock in said last mentioned position.

11. In a car coupler of the rigid-jawed type having a head, a lock which automatically assumes a forwardly projecting locking position and which is movable rearwardly to unlocking position, a lock operating lever for moving said lock out of locking position, uncoupling means for actuating said lever, said. uncoupling means including an integral link member loosely attached to said lever, abutment means on said head and spaced from said lock, said link member being movable into holding engagement with said abutment means when said lever is moved into a position in which said lock is in unlocking position, said engagement maintaining said lock in unlocking position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,201,666 Willison Oct. 17, 1916 1,290,969 Gelpin Jan. 14, 1919 1,290,970 Murphy Jan. 14, 1919 1,647,497 Blackmore et al. Nov. 1, 1927 1,647,498 Anliker et al. Nov. 1, 1927 1,990,887 Wittmer et al. Feb. 12, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 186,135 Germany Aug. 31, 1936 

